Good Evening. Thank you for taking the time to listen this letter to the Essex Board of Trustees in place of my presence at this meeting. I am writing in regard to the Draft Massage Therapy Establishment Regulations. I am unable to attend this evening meeting due to an illness in my family.

Before commenting on the draft regulation, I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. I have been practicing massage therapy as a Licensed Massage Practitioner since 2003. My license is from the state of Washington and I have maintained for the last ten years that I have been in Vermont because I believe so strongly in professional licensing.

In 2006, I was elected to the Board of Directors of the Vermont Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association.I was also appointed as the Government Relations Chair for the chapter with the priority of working with local massage therapists and and the state government to lay the groundwork for licensing massage therapy in Vermont. In 2008, I formed Vermont Initiative for Massage Standards, a coalition of of massage therapists, representatives of massage organizations, a CAM (Complimentary & Alternative Medicine) advocate who works on the national level, and a legislative consultant who has help create massage regulation in many states.

In 2010, we submitted a Sunrise Application for Regulation of Massage Therapy to the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulations. After an open hearing with good discussion by massage therapists on both side of the argument for regulation and a positive response from the OPR counsel assigned to this application, OPR came back with an official ruling against regulation for massage therapy. The stated reason for OPR’s decision is that the director did not believe there had been enough instances of documented harm involving massage therapy.

As of the birth of my daughter in 2012, I resigned from the Vermont AMTA and Maureen Slayton White took over as the Chair for Government Relations. You will also be hearing from her this evening.

Earlier this year, when the Vermont House Operations Committee decided that regulating massage therapy through House Bill 644 was not a priority, I breathed a sign of relief and frustration. HB644 was a reactionary piece of legislation written in response to the ever present problem of prostitution and human trafficking occurring under the guise of massage therapy. Regulating massage therapy is not an effective way to to manage prostitution and human trafficking. I fully agree that sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and prostitution pose a significant public risk and should be stopped. However, those issued should be addressed directly.

My overall concern with the Draft Massage Therapy Establishment Regulations being considered tonight is that you are opting to regulate where, how, and by whom massage therapy can be practiced. But you are only doing this as a means to combat the illegal activities of sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and prostitution.

Massage therapy is a healthcare profession and should be regulated as such. Sex trafficking and prostitution are crimes that should be investigated by the police and prosecuted. Please lets not confuse the two issues. They are not one in the same.

Let’s work together to protect the citizen of Essex Junction and the Town of Essex without putting undo permitting and operational restrictions on the massage practitioners that work with those citizens.

Last Wednesday morning, I was finalizing a “sample letter” for you (those who have benefited from massage therapy) to send to the Vermont House Operations Committee regarding H644, the proposed bill to license massage therapy. And then this Rutland Herald article, Panel Rejects New Massage Regulations, landed in my inbox.

As you know, a bill, H644, was introduced in the Vermont House to license massage therapy. The bill was designed to regulate a healthcare profession in order to curb human trafficking and prostitution. These are two separate issues and should be dealt as such. (Thus the “sample letter” for you to send.) You can read more about this bill here.

In short, here is what happened. After being in contact with the legislative assistant for the Government Operations Committee, we were told that it would be several weeks before the bill was considered by the committee. That time span shorted to a few days.

On February 18th, H644 was introduced to the committee. “A majority of the House Government Operations Committee members said they did not favor taking up the bill this year.” So for now the effort to regulate massage therapy in Vermont is once again shelved.

Representative Tim Jerman, one of the legislator who sponsored H644 is from Essex Junction. The Junction is where one of the “massage parlors” that was fronting human trafficking last fall was located. “Essex Junction is considering instituting a local ordinance to prevent illicit activity in spas, Jerman said. However, that may not be the right approach, he said, for a problem that has sprouted up in several locations across the state.” I will keep you appraised of any developments on this local call for regulation of massage therapy.

So what should you do in the mean time to protect your self?

Ask your massage therapist if s/he is licensed in another state or certified nationally through NCBTMB.

Ask your massage therapist if s/he belongs to a professional association for massage therapy.

All of these questions will help you gauge the training, experience, and professionalism of the person you are allowing to touch your body.

And last but not least, GET MASSAGE. Touch is everything!

]]>Colds, flu, and massagehttp://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/2014/colds-flu-and-massage/
Tue, 18 Feb 2014 17:06:04 +0000http://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/?p=316Continue reading →]]>Having just made it through over a month of flu, colds and sinus infections in my house, I think it is a good time to remind you, if you have cold or flu symptoms you should reschedule your massage.

Sometime massage is not a good idea.

It is that time of year again and there are more sniffles and coughs going around than ever. If you are not feeling well, please reschedule your massage. If you are coughing and sneezing, or if you are feverish, massage can be downright unpleasant and make your illness worse. I want you to take the best possible care of yourself, and sometimes that means massage should be delayed.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email me to discuss if you’re not sure about receiving massage. I can help you make that decision and if necessary, get you rescheduled for a more appropriate time.

Take care,
Chris

Reprinted with permission from Allissa Haines.

]]>Massage Regulation & Vermonthttp://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/2014/massage-regulation-vermont/
http://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/2014/massage-regulation-vermont/#commentsWed, 29 Jan 2014 14:14:58 +0000http://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/?p=293Continue reading →]]>The real title of this blog post should be Good News, Bad News. I am referring to the fact that at the end of January, two state representatives introduced a bill to regulate massage therapy in Vermont. At face value that seems like good news, but it is not. To understand this conundrum, we need to start with a basic understanding of state regulation of a profession, how that happens in Vermont and some history about massage therapy regulation.

Why regulate a profession
States impose regulation on a profession for one reason: To protect the public. To understand the rationale for the regulation process lets look at medical doctors. The state feels there is risk if it does not establish a standard of practice (a set of guidelines for providing high-quality care), a basic education requirement, and a continuing education requirement. Regulation provides several protections: a doctor must be properly educated to practice; a physician who does not meet the standard of practice may be investigated and, if appropriate, their license revoked; continuing education will be monitored. Pretty straightforward, right? Well it’s not just medical doctors that are regulated by the state. Hairdressers, landscape architects, physical therapists and many, many more are regulated. All are regulated as a means of public protection.

How does this work in Vermont
In most states, the process for regulating a profession starts with the introduction of a bill in the state legislature. However, that is not the case in Vermont and a handful of other states. Here, there is a process called the Sunrise Application that a profession must go through (and pass) before proposed legislation can be passed to a state legislator for introduction, consideration, and vote. The Sunrise Review process puts the ownness on the profession to prove that regulation is necessary. (Remember, regulation for a profession is to protect the public.) The Sunrise Application is submitted to the Office for Professional Regulation (OPR). Once the application has been reviewed by OPR counsel (an assigned lawyer) by an open hearing is held for any interested party to speak for/ or against the proposed regulation. After the hearing the OPR counsel will make a recommendation to the director of OPR. But it is the director who puts the final stamp on the application.

A little history of attempts for regulation of massage therapy in Vermont
In 2010, with the help of a group of massage therapists, representatives of massage organizations, a CAM (Complimentary & Alternative Medicine) advocate who works on the national level, and a legislative consultant who has help create massage regulation in many states, I submitted a Sunrise Application for massage therapy (over 1000 pages long). After an open hearing with good discussion by massage therapists on both side of the argument for regulation and a positive response from the OPR counsel assigned to this application, OPR came back with an official ruling against regulation for massage therapy. The stated reason for OPR’s decision is that the director did not believe there had been enough instances of documented harm involving massage therapy.

I maintain my Washington massage license because Vermont does not currently have any state regulations for massage therapy.

So why do other states think massage therapy should be regulated?
Regulation for any profession is based on public protection. So the real question is “can massage therapy cause harm?” The answer is yes. Harm can come in many forms: physical, emotional, financial, etc. A basic massage therapy training (usually at least 500 hours) clearly defines in what instances massage therapy should not be done because it is contraindicated. A few examples…There are times when massage is completely contraindicated for a person, such as fever, or when a single area should not receive treatment, such as varicose veins. Even further, there are time when massage therapy should be received only with the approval of a physician, such as post surgical and cancer treatment situations. Harm can be immediate or potential. Immediate harm could be a burn from a hot stone massage. While potential harm is certainly present when massaging a calf that has a clot (deep vein thrombosis), the real harm develops when the clot could break free causing an obstruction elsewhere in the body. Potential harm is equally important to recognize in the instances where empirical data does not yet show examples of harm. In order to understand the potential for harm a massage therapist must be appropriately educated.

The financial harm of committing to a long-term course of work with a massage therapist who can not show their skill base and it’s effectiveness is another reason for regulation of massage therapy.

Massage is a very intimate experience. The therapist must be able to appropriately and respectfully navigate the relationship with each client. A massage therapist makes people feel better, but must remain professional.

With the current lack of standards in Vermont, anyone can call themselves a “massage therapist”. There is no definition of what’s massage therapist is, what a massage therapist can do, and how a massage therapist is to conduct business.

Now that I have convinced you of the need for massage regulation, why am I suggesting not supporting Vermont House Bill 644?
The current proposed legislation, H 644, is a reactionary piece of legislation written in response to the ever present problem of prostitution and human trafficking occurring under the guise of massage therapy. Regulating massage therapy is not an effective way to to manage prostitution and human trafficking. I am in no way advocating for prostitution (that is a blog post for another day). Those issued should be addressed directly.

“It has been demonstrated that the unregulated practice of massage therapy can clearly harm or endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the public, including harm caused by human trafficking which has been known to take place in unregulated massage therapy shops, and the potential for harm is recognizable and not remote or speculative.”

This quote is taken directly from H 644 as the number one reason for regulating massage therapy. And when looking at what unprofessional conduct (or reasons for revocation of a license) the top two reasons are:

(1) sexual harassment of a client; (2) engaging in a sexual act as defined in 13 V.S.A. § 3251 with a client;

The bill outlines in very slim terms a basic education of 500 hours (or for existing massage therapists, 5-years of practice). There is no definition of what that education includes or the need/requirements for continuing education in the field. It is obvious that this bill was not actually written about massage therapy. Let’s start with a well written bill that is focused on the profession it is regulating rather than hijacking massage therapist as a means to convicting the criminal activities of prostitution and human trafficking.

My proposed solution
A fellow massage therapist recently reminded me that if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. I am grateful these three state representatives brought the need for massage therapy regulation to the legislature (after all the OPR was not willing to support it) but I think they missed a great opportunity. In the last three years, Vermont has been left behind by the rest of the country in regulating massage therapy. We are now the only state in which there is no regulation of massage therapy. Let’s get a better bill proposed. Let’s encourage our state legislators to make Vermont a better place for massage therapists to work

What can you do?

Talk to your massage therapist about what is happening in massage therapy regulation.

Talk to your friends about the benefits of massage therapy.

Read the legislation we proposed to OPR in 2010 (no need to read the entire sunrise application).

I can’t believe that it is the middle of September. It has been wonderful to be working with you all again for almost a year now. As you know I have been able to extend my hours from the initial one day a week to two and now three days a week. I appreciate to be once again helping you to find ease in your body. Thank you for this opportunity.

Looking back, I realize that it has been almost four years since I have changed my rates. While I am sure that this has been nice for your wallet, it is not sustainable for me. Starting October 1st, my rates will be $85 per session. BUT, as a thank you for being a supportive & loyal client, I will be offering you a $5 discount on your sessions. All new clients will start at the full rate.

]]>More, more, morehttp://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/2013/more-more-more/
Sat, 03 Aug 2013 19:20:16 +0000http://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/?p=272Continue reading →]]>More, more, more. That is one of Aida’s favorite signs. And I have been hearing it from you too. So here it is.

Online scheduling is back! No more playing phone or email tag to schedule an appointment. Now you can book your appointment immediately online. Follow this link to schedule an appointment. (My website is getting updated with this link but it will be a few weeks, so save this email or bookmark the link on your computer.)

Still want that personal touch of scheduling through me? No problem. You can still email, call or text me at 802-233-0600 to schedule an appointment.

But wait there is still more…

Expanded office hours! Appointments are now available Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:30a to 4:30p. Starting August 15, I will be seeing clients on alternating Thursdays. I plan to be working Thursdays full time in the fall.

Take care & I hope to see you soon,
Chris

P.S. And lastly, the much requested photo of the kiddo…

Aida meeting her first horse, Blackjack, in Stowe.(I think we might be in trouble.)

After a long awaited arrival, she is here! Aida Widlund (pronounced with a long “A” and a silent “I”) was born on Thursday, March 29th, at 6:29am. She was 9 pounds 6 ounces and 21 inches long. She has here daddy’s eyes and my mouth, but neither of are sure where she came into her height and her size. Regardless, she is beautiful!

My heart has doubled (at least), since Aida made her debut. I never knew I could be so in love with two people (Eben & Aida). I also never knew I could find such patience in a state of “new parent” exhaustion.

Thank you all for boundless support through this adventure of becoming a parent.

]]>http://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/2012/she-is-here/feed/21Baby Widlund, any day now…http://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/2012/baby-widlund-any-day-now/
http://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/2012/baby-widlund-any-day-now/#commentsFri, 09 Mar 2012 16:32:51 +0000http://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/?p=264Continue reading →]]>It is hard to believe but I am only two weeks from my due date. A year ago, this baby girl was coming to us through adoption. And now she is getting ready to make her debut and my waist line smaller. Wow how things change!

The construction on the baby room and bathroom is done. Our wills are signed. My hair is cut. Our bags are packed for the hospital. We have even given over our cherished “game” table to be a downstairs baby changing table. Now all we are waiting for her!

In the meantime, I am going to the OB twice a week to hear her galloping heart rate (one of the perks of being 39 and pregnant). I get craniosacral therapy once a week; bodywork has never felt so good to me as it does now. And I am spending a lot of time being watched over by Charlie (the golden retriever) and Parker (the cat) with my feet propped up to keep my toes from turning into sausages.

I hope you are healthy and happy. And I especially hope you are taking care of yourself whether it be through, massage, craniosacral, deep breaths or long walks. I miss you all and look forward to seeing you again in the fall.

]]>http://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/2012/baby-widlund-any-day-now/feed/2Maternity Leave & Beyondhttp://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/2011/maternity-leave-beyond/
Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:59:52 +0000http://www.stillpointmassage.com/wordpress/?p=251Continue reading →]]>As I am sure you know by now, I am pregnant. In fact today is the official half way mark – 20 weeks. This pregnancy completely caught us by surprise as we were well into the process of adopting when we found out I was pregnant. And it continues to surprise us at every turn: very difficult first trimester, dramatic reduction in work load, a baby that just won’t let us sneak a peek as to gender and now an earlier than expected maternity leave.

My due date is March 21st. I fully anticipated to work through the end of February. Happily gliding into March with a few weeks off and then out comes the baby. Hah! Parenting Lesson #1: The decisions are not yours alone to make.

Starting a couple of weeks ago, I began to have difficulty doing massage and craniosacral work. It seemed like my arms were shrinking. As it turns out my big baby belly is the culprit. Now as my ligaments are loosening up, my joints are starting to take a beating. But the baby is happy, healthy and kicking up
a storm. With the physical changes, I have decided to go on maternity leave as of the Christmas holidays. December 16th will be my last day of work.

As a new parent I really am only shooting in the dark when I am making plans, but I plan to be on maternity leave for six months after the baby comes home. So I am anticipating returning to work in the Fall of 2012.

Fear not, I have been thinking about you in this whole process. Read on to find out what options you have while I am on maternity leave.

Other Therapists

It is very important that you continue to take care of yourself with regular bodywork while I am away. Here are three therapists who I trust to help you do this:

Karen Waters
Karen has been in my office since this summer. She is an excellent massage therapist focusing in Trigger Point Therapy. She will continue to see clients in the Winooski office. If you are looking for massage therapy, call Karen at 802-497-7632

Kate Kennedy
Kate is my personal craniosacral therapist. She has been excellent in helping me with both physical and emotional “stuck” spots. Kate is trained in a variety of craniosacral styles (Upledger, Biodynamic, etc) as well as Brain Therapy. To schedule an appointment with Kate at her Burlington office, call 802-578-3339.

Dave Tomlinson
Dave has been my craniosacral mentor for several years. He also helped me dramatically both preparing for and healing from my jaw reconstructive surgery in 2008. Dave has been teaching CST for 18 years and now runs the New England Center for CranioSacral Therapy in Burlington. To schedule an appointment with this patient, gentle man call 802-578-9451.

If you would like to talk with me personally about which therapist is the better fit for you, just let me know. But know if you work with any of these three therapists, you will be in great hands.

Massage Packages & Gift Certificates

You are probably reading this section because you purchased a Massage Package from or were given a Gift Certificate to Stillpoint. For starters let me start by thanking you for investing in me. You referral and financial support has made Stillpoint the independent and blossoming practice that it is and while continue to be into the future.

If you have purchased a Massage Package and you still have some sessions remaining on it, I will be reimbursing you for the remaining dollar value of your package. I will be sending checks out by the end of the year. Just think of it as your “bonus” for taking care of yourself. And invest it in taking care of yourself in the new year.

If you have a Gift Certificate to Stillpoint, you have three options:

#1 Use your Gift Certificate with Karen Waters. She will gladly accept them as payment for a session with her.

#2 Send me your Gift Certificate to me and I will send you a check for its cash value. Then invest it in taking care of yourself.

#3 Hold onto your Gift Certificate for when I come back from maternity leave. But be careful, Gift Certificates do have expiration dates.

The End

Wow! You made it all the way to the bottom of this long and information dense email. Congratulations! I’ll be sending you another email just before I leave and giving you the web address of our baby blog, in case you want to see how this whole parenting adventure turns out for us.

Thank you for all the support you have given me and trust you have put in me. I look forward to continuing our relationship in 2012!